5 Reasons Why a Vacation to Amazing Maui Should Be On Your Short List

5 Reasons Why a Vacation to Amazing Maui Should Be On Your Short List

I recently had an incredible trip to Maui Nui, or Greater Maui, as part of a Virtuoso Study Tour in association with the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau (MVCB).  Action-packed and comprehensive, this intensive week included visits to all of Maui County, including the islands of Lanai and Molokai, a number of hotel stays and visits, and first-hand experience with activities that are as much of a draw for tourists as the marvelous beaches.

This exercise in immersion in the geography, history and culture of the islands has left an indelible impression on my view of the region as a destination for a wide range of travelers – in fact, I believe Maui has something for just about everyone.

Following are my 5 greatest reasons why you should visit amazing Maui Nui and experience the authentic “Aloha” spirit, as I did during my stay:

It is absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous.  From the lush mountains and volcanoes of the northern and eastern regions of the Island of Maui to the drier, sunnier, and flatter southern and western regions, the landscape is dramatic, varied and stunning.  You can be sitting on the beach and swimming in 80° crystal clear waters one minute and a few hours later hiking up Haleakala to view the sunset and in need of a sweater or jacket (temperatures sometimes dip below freezing!).  It seems like you can find any degree of warm to cool climate all within easy reach.  For an exhilarating day (and it does take an entire day roundtrip), drive the Road to Hana, where the views are spectacular.

You can pack a lot of action into your vacation.  On a trip to Maui, you can participate in a mind-blowing array of active pursuits – hiking, camping, biking, zip-lining, every type of water sport, sailing, fishing, whale watching, golfing, horseback riding, ATV/UTV-ing and more. During my week in Maui, we zip-lined, snorkeled, swam with green sea turtles, hiked, beachcombed, whale watched and canoed.  We were supposed to try out the water bikes at the Andaz Maui, but the water was a bit too choppy. Everyone knows about the surfing in Maui, where there is a suitable beach for every experience level.  You can go on a UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle) tour through the terrain of Lanai or hike down to Kaulaupapa National Historical Park on Molokai.  Or choose from 14 golf courses on Maui and 2 on Lanai – the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and the Four Seasons Manele Bay are two courses that should be on every avid golfers challenge list, in my opinion. There is so much to do for those who seek an active vacation that you can find a different sport for each and every day of a 3-week vacation.

Or you can do a lot of nothing.  For some people, their idea of a vacation is plopping down on a lounge chair with a good book on a beach or at an incredible pool.  There is no shortage of beautiful beaches to choose from and most of the best hotels are located on prime beachfront. From Manele Bay on Lanai to Kapalua to Kaanapali to Wailea, there is enough pristine beach for everyone, so crowds are rare to nonexistent.  The shimmering waters are nothing less than mesmerizing!  If you are simply not an ocean person or like to mix it up between the two, there are plenty of extravagant over-the-top hotel pools where you can relax on a lounger, in a cabana, or just loll around in the shallow end!  There is nothing more relaxing than listening to the lap of waves while engrossed in a great book (or taking an afternoon nap).  I did not get to do any of that while on my visit, but I will make it a priority on my next trip, even if only for a day or two.

You don’t have to break the bank to vacation in Maui. While it has a reputation for being expensive, you can vacation in Maui on a wide range of budgets.  I sampled mostly 4- to 5-star properties, and some of the nicest are priced at good entry-level rates.  I adored the Four Seasons Lanai, but it is a remote location and the fit between guest and property must be perfect. I enjoyed my stay at the Royal Lahaina, where even in the high season rates are very reasonable.  The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, the Andaz Maui and the Fairmont Kea Lani all have unique features and ambience, but realistic rates.  And Maui hotels are extremely family-friendly, with most kids’ programs free-of-charge or included in the daily resort fee, and tons of activities to keep even the most active families happy.  Guests who pay for Club Level access at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua will find it well worth the price for a family, as there is always an attractive variety of fare for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and desert throughout the day. And many suites and villas at all the hotels we visited are equipped with full or partial kitchens.

It’s exotic but you don’t need a passport.  Hawaii has a its own culture that is unlike any other place in the U.S. It’s exotic, but it is still in-country, which means you don’t need a passport for entry.  And while many residents speak Hawaiian (a form of Polynesian), visitors do not have to learn the language in order to communicate with the locals.  But it is fun to learn some of the language and you can very easily fall into the local vernacular, where instead of the normal “hello”, it is “Aloha” and rather than “thank you “, it is “mahalo”.  It’s just different enough to feel like you are away from home, but with all the familiar comforts of the U.S.

There are a ton of other reasons why you should put Hawaii on your short list of beach destinations, including the fantastic, friendly people, the incredible farm to table and other delectable restaurants, the sophisticated infrastructure, and – of course, the weather!

Aloha and Maholo for reading the Smith Luxury Travel blog!

Makalapua Cocktail at Luana Fairmont Kea Lani